Universal Electric Skateboard Unit

ABSTRACT

This electric motorized skateboard may include a skateboard deck, skateboard trucks, skateboard wheels, a wireless controller, and a removable motorized drive train module. The wireless controller controlling the electric motorized skateboard may take the form of different controllers that measure different human movements. The electric motorized skateboard may include one or two removable motorized drive train module. The removable motorized drive train module may contain an integrated rechargeable battery, drive hub motors that are attached to the axle of a skateboard truck, and an adapter for the drive hub motors to attach to various skateboard wheels. Each drive hub motor contains its own motor controller circuit that translates the signal from the controller into mechanical movement for that wheel independently. The integrated rechargeable battery can power multiple drive hub motors. The removable motorized drive train module may include one or two drive hub motors.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/043,783, filed Aug. 29, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention are in the technical field of land vehicles. Specific embodiments of the present invention pertain to skateboards. Further specific embodiments the present invention relate to the electric motorization of skateboards controlled by human integrated devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional skateboards and longboards have been around for years. A skateboard consists of a deck, which the user stands on, consisting of wood or a hard, flexible material. Attached beneath this deck are two trucks which have axles that allow the wheels to rotate and pivot enabling the user to turn and move. Typically skateboards are not motorized, but rather propelled by one pushing oneself forward by applying force against the ground using their foot.

Only within the past decade has motor and battery technology improved so that skateboards can now be powered by electric motors and high power electric batteries. The status quo consists of an electric powered skateboard with a fixed deck, wheels and remote, limiting the adjustability of the electric vehicle and the user's ability to personalize and customize their electric vehicle. What is needed is a versatile apparatus that allows the electrification of any skateboard deck, the use of various type of skateboard wheels, and various controllers that best fit the rider's needs through an adaptable vehicle architecture.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The Universal Electric Skateboard Unit consists of, in its entirety, a baseplate, a baseplate adapter, a skateboard truck, a skateboard hub motor, an integrated battery, a hard plastic case and a motherboard circuit board. The Universal Electric Skateboard Unit is a module that can fit on any skateboard deck through the use of a baseplate adapter that mounts to a skateboard deck. The baseplate adapter uses four bolts in either the “Old School” or “New School” bolt pattern to attach the module to the skateboard deck. This adaptability allows the user to mount the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit to their existing skateboard deck or to any skateboard deck. The baseplate adapter is also attached to the baseplate through a set of bolts. The baseplate holds the battery and the motherboard circuit board in a protective plastic case that prevents damage to the battery and the motherboard circuit board. The battery is a high density battery that is designed for high current applications. The motherboard circuit board controls the charging and discharging of the battery, and it transmits information from the wireless controller to the motor control circuit. The baseplate adapter is also attached to the skateboard truck through a set of bushings, a bolt, and a nut. The Universal Electric Skateboard Unit is powered by an electric motorized drive train system that can contain one or two skateboard hub motors. This skateboard hub motor consists of a drive hub motor that is mounted to the axle of the skateboard truck. The drive hub motor replicates a brushless out-runner motor by having the stator mounted onto the skateboard axle. The skateboard hub motor has bearings, which support the rotation of the motor's can. The motor's can contains magnets, which causes it to rotate because of the magnetic field produced by the coils of the stator. The can of the motor has an adapter that attaches to a skateboard wheel. Skateboard wheels of different sizes, colors, shapes, and thicknesses can be attached to the adapter, allowing the electric vehicle to have additional customization. Multiple skateboard huh motors can be attached to the axle of the skateboard truck to increase the torque and power of the electric skateboard. Additionally, each skateboard hub motor has its own motor control circuit. The motor control circuit interprets the signal from the wireless controller and translates it through a three phase inverter to the coils of the stator, which produces a magnetic field that causes the skateboard wheel to rotate. By having each skateboard hub motor have its own motor control circuit, each skateboard wheel is independent from each other. Multiple skateboard hub motors can be used without influencing the other. The Universal Electric Skateboard Unit can be controlled through bluetooth communication by a variety of controllers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit mounted to a skateboard.

FIG. 2 demonstrates how the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit is mounted to any skateboard deck.

FIG. 3 shows how the baseplate adapter is attached to the baseplate as well as the skateboard hub motors.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the adjustable skateboard wheel is interchangeable as it can be easily attached to the drive hub motor assembly.

FIG. 5 shows the assembly of the Drive Hub Motor and highlights how each Drive Hub Motor has its own Motor Controller Circuit Board.

FIG. 6 highlights the assembly of the Battery, the Motherboard Circuit Board, and the Electronics Case.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating how the electronic components are connected to each other, as well as how the vehicle architecture enables the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit to be adaptable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description below is designed to explain the presently preferred embodiment of the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit. However, this electric vehicle and/or its components are not intended to represent the only form, assembly, or intention of the present invention. Both the functions and the order of the necessary steps for constructing and operating the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit are to be explained. It is to be noted that similar processes, structures, methods, and illustrations may be accomplished by different embodiments.

According to FIG. 1, there is the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3 attached to the Skateboard Deck 1 through 4 Mounting Screws 2. In this current configuration, the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3 is mounted towards the back of the skateboard, powering two Skateboard Hub Motors 6 in the rear. On the front of the skateboard deck is the front Skateboard Truck 4 and two regular Skateboard Wheels S that are designed specifically for cruising and transportation.

According to FIG. 2, The Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3 is mounted to the Skateboard Deck 1 by using 4 Mounting Screws 2 to secure the unit. Thus, specific embodiments of the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3 can be attached to the back of any skateboard deck through the use of the Baseplate Adapter 7, which can accommodate both “Old School” and “New School” bolt pattern dimensions. This then reduces, or eliminates, the need for modifications to a standard skateboard deck and allows for the conversion from a regular Skateboard to an electric skateboard. The Skateboard Hub Motors 6 are attached to the Skateboard Truck 4, which is then mounted to the Baseplate Adapter 7.

According to FIG. 3, this is a perspective view which focuses on the entirety of the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3. The Board Mounting Threads 12 are used to attach any skateboard deck to the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit. The Board Mounting Threads 12 consist of the “Old School” bolt pattern and the “New School” bolt pattern. The difference between the two bolt patterns is the distance between the set of mounting holes. The “Old School” bolt pattern 26 is shorter than the “New School” pattern. Next, The Baseplate Adapter 7 is mounted to the Baseplate 9 through the use of the Baseplate Adapter Bolts 8. The Battery Case 29 is attached to the Baseplate 9. The Baseplate Adapter 7 is also attached to the Skateboard Truck 4 through the use of the Kingpin Bolt 10 and the Kingpin Nut 11. The Skateboard Truck 4 is a regular, non-specialized skateboard truck which allows the user to choose the Skateboard Truck 4 of his/her choice. The Skateboard Hub Motors 6 are mounted to the Skateboard Truck 4 through the locking threads on the axle. One or two Skateboard Hub Motors 6 can be mounted to any one Skateboard Truck 4, allowing the vehicle to have adjustable torque and power. The Baseplate Adapter 7 hold all the components together into one module comprising the Universal Electric Skateboard Unit 3.

According to FIG. 4, this view focuses on the assembly of the Skateboard Hub Motor 6. The Skateboard Hub Motor 6 consists of the Adjustable Skateboard Wheel 15 that is mounted to the Drive Hub Motor Assembly 14 through the Adjustable Skateboard Wheel Mounting Bolts 13. The Drive Hub Motor Assembly 14 is attached to the axle of the Skateboard Truck 4 by locking threads. The Adjustable Skateboard Wheel 15 can be swapped for a newer wheel after wear and tear or for change in preference, both without the removal of the Drive Huh Motor Assembly 14. Additionally, this mounting mechanism allows for various skateboard wheels to be used where the diameter of the wheel, material, color, and other characteristics can be changed to optimize the electric vehicle to meet the needs of the user.

According to FIG. 5, this view depicts the assembly of the Drive Hub Motor Assembly 14. The Motor Can 25 attaches to the Adjustable Skateboard Wheel 15 and holds the Neodymium Magnets 24, The Neodymium Magnets 24 are used to transfer the magnetic field produced by The Stator 22 into mechanical energy, The Motor Can 25 is the outer shell of the Drive Hub Motor Assembly 14, which keeps all the dirt and debris out of the motor. The Stator 22 holds the copper windings which produce a magnetic field forcing the Motor Can 25 to rotate about its axis. In order to control the magnetic field produced by the copper windings of the Stator 22, the Motor Controller Circuit Board 21 is used. The Stator Mount 18 is mounted onto the axle of the Skateboard Truck 4 through the use of the Skateboard Truck Mounting Threads 19. The Stator 22, Motor Controller Circuit Board 21, and Stator Mount 18 are stationary on the axle of the Skateboard Truck 4. The Motor Can 25 rotates freely through the use of both the Motor Can Outer Bearing 23 and the Motor Can Inner Bearing 16, The Motor Can 25 encapsulate the hub motor through the use of the Motor Cap 26 and the Motor Can Mounting Bolts 17. As each Skateboard Hub Motor 6 has its own Motor Controller Circuit Board 21, each Skateboard Hub Motor 6 runs independent of each other, creating the feel of an all-wheel drive. Multiple of these Skateboard Hub Motors 6 can be placed on an electric skateboard to increase the power and torque of the electric skateboard.

According to FIG. 6, the view depicts the assembly of the Electronics Case 29. Underneath the hard shell of the Battery Case 29 are both the Battery 27 and the Motherboard PCB 28, The Battery 27 and the Motherboard PCB 28 are protected from water, damage, and dirt through the protection of the Electronics Case 29, which is made from a hard lightweight shell. It is water tight sealed to the Baseplate 9.

According to FIG. 7, this block diagram demonstrates how all the different electrical components connect to each other, as well as highlighting how the vehicle architecture makes the module adaptable. The Motherboard PCB 28 consists of the Control MCU, the Power Management System, and the Battery Charging Circuit. The Power Management System is responsible for providing power to the Control MCU, the Bluetooth Chip, and the Motor Controller Circuit for each motor. The Battery Charging Circuit is responsible for ensuring proper charging of the battery from regenerative braking and from an external charger by ensuring each battery cell is balanced. This battery management design allows for various Skateboard Hub Motors 6 to be powered and controlled from a single power source. So, for a single Skateboard Truck 4, it can provide power to one or two Skateboard Hub Motors 6, allowing the user to customize the torque and power of the electric vehicle. The Control MCU is responsible for decoding, interpreting, and transferring signals from the Bluetooth chip to the Motor Controller Circuit of each motor. So, one Control MCU can control several Motor Controller Circuits 21 enabling multiple Skateboard Hub Motors 6 to be used in order to meet the user's power requirements. To control the speed and braking of the electric skateboard, users can choose from a variety of controllers that case Bluetooth to transmit this information to the Control MCU, through the Bluetooth Chip, By using a Smartphone App, users can operate their phone external wearables. Thus, the Control MCU will be able to decipher the type of controller to adjust the control algorithm accordingly. This adaptability enables the user to choose the controller that it most comfortable for him/her. The Motor Controller Circuit, symbolized by the block distinguished by dashed lines, is used to convert electrical energy into mechanical. The Motor Control MCU is responsible for making the motor run at the speed designated by the Control MCU. To control the Brushless Hub Motor, the Motor Control MCU uses feedback from the Position Control Sensors to determine if the torque needs to be adjusted to match the designated speed. The Gate Driver and Mosfet Inverter are used to drive the Brushless Hub Motor at the designated speed set by the Control MCU. By having each motor have its own controller, it enables each Skateboard Hub Motor to run independent from each other, preventing torque steering. Thus, the Skateboard Hub Motor will have its oven control system embedded in it.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1—Skateboard Deck -   2—Skateboard Mounting Bolts -   3—Universal Electric Skateboard Unit -   4—Skateboard Truck -   5—Skateboard Wheel -   6—Skateboard Hub Motor -   7—Baseplate Adapter -   8—Baseplate Adapter Bolt -   9—Baseplate -   10—Pivot Kingpin -   11—Kingpin Nut -   12—Board Mounting Threads -   13—Adjustable Skateboard Wheel Mounting Bolts -   14—Drive Hub Motor Assembly -   15—Adjustable Skateboard Wheel -   16—Motor Can Inner Bearing -   17—Motor Can Mounting Screws -   18—Stator Mount -   19—Skateboard Truck Mounting Threads -   20—Shaft Collar -   21—Motor Controller Circuit Board -   22—Motor Stator And Windings -   23—Motor Can Outer Bearing -   24—Neodynium Magnets -   25—Motor Can -   26—Motor Cap -   27—Battery -   28—Motherboard Circuit Board -   29—Electronics Case 

1. A module for motorizing a skateboard, comprising: a mounting adapter wherein the module can be attached to any skateboard deck; an electric motorized drive train assembly consisting of drive hub motors that are mounted to the axles of a skateboard truck; skateboard wheels being driven by drive hub motors; a motor control circuit that controls the speed, acceleration, and regenerative braking; a wireless receiver that can receive communication from various wireless controllers that translates the values received from the controller into a variable electric motor output; and a power source, wherein a power management circuit supplies power to the motor and the motor control circuit from the battery, wherein the power source is in the form of a rechargeable battery.
 2. The module according to claim 1, further comprising: one or two hub motors being independent of the axle and the other wheel's rotation.
 3. The module according to claim 1, further comprising: a wireless controller taking the form of a wearable that can communicate human gestures and interactions into vehicle control through a smartphone application.
 4. The module according to claim 1, wherein the hub motor has its own motor control circuit.
 5. The module according to claim 1, wherein the skateboard wheel mounted to the drive hub motor is interchangeable.
 6. The module according to claim 1, further comprising: a breaking mechanism that enables the user to brake while preventing the overcharging of the battery by dissipating energy through active braking.
 7. The module of claim 1, wherein the hub motor is internally geared.
 8. The module of claim 1, wherein the hub motor is direct-drive.
 9. The module of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery is replaceable.
 10. The module of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery is integrated into the module.
 11. The module of claim 1, wherein there is at least one sensor used to measure the current of the motor indicating a load on the motor providing sufficient information to indicate that there is a rider on the board enabling the throttle to be engaged. 